Commenting on the new plant, Ignacio Hojas, president of Unilever Middle Americas, said: “We are importers of a number of products in Colombia and the wider region from larger countries such as Mexico, Brazil and Argentina. The acquisition of Quala’s brands give us the critical mass necessary to build a plant, given the scale of these brands. The idea is to transform Colombia from being a country that imports these personal and hair care products to one that supplies demand from Colombia, but can also export to neighbouring countries”.

The plant will be built at an existing Unilever manufacturing complex in Palmira, where food and household products are also produced. The construction process is expected to last 18 months.